It's the most annoying headline of the offseason: "_____ is in the best shape of his career." It comes when the well runs dry in terms of signings and trades, when there's nothing to do but count down the days until pitchers and catchers report.
This year, the player whose shape we've heard the most about is John Lackey. Not a surprise--those who fell the furthest are the ones who this sort of news can mean the most for. John Lackey was felled by his UCL (and, some would argue, his sheer Lackyness--Lackosity?), yes, but dropping a few pounds probably can't hurt.